Today’s haunted attractions are not your grandparents’ idea of scary. Anyone of a certain age remembers the haunted houses when we were kids, usually organized as a fundraiser by a local community group.
Haunted attractions today are big business. We’re not talking standard jump-scare attractions; the top-tier mega haunts are full-scale productions with intricate costuming, realistic props (even a few that are alive), animatronics and a range of special effects. They generate more than $500 million in revenue each Halloween season, according to America Haunts, a national association of haunted attractions whose collective annual attendance tops 1 million thrill-seekers.
“More than 30% of ticket sales at the top attractions in the country surveyed by America Haunts come from travelers, some flying across the country for the kind of immersive scare that can’t be found at local haunts,” said Amber Arnett Bequeaith, spokesperson for America Haunts.
Arnett Bequeaith knows the industry well. Her parents and grandparents started the first commercial haunted attraction in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1974 to extend the use of props, costumes and theatrical experience from the short summer season of their outdoor theater in a small lake community a few hours away.
The concept caught on quickly, she said, and by the 1980s Kansas City had as many as 16 commercial haunted attractions. Hauntrepreneurs came from around the U.S. to study them, then return home to set up similar attractions.
Arnett Bequeaith, also known as the Queen of Haunts within the industry, now runs the family business with her uncle. Their Full Moon Productions operates three haunts within walking distance of one another in century-old warehouses within the West Bottoms district, once the center of Kansas City’s steamship and railroad trade: Edge of Hell, Macabre Cinema and The Beast.
In its 51st season, Edge of Hell is believed to be the nation’s oldest operating commercial haunted house. You’ll get a full sensory experience while descending five stories from the top (heaven) to the bottom (hell), from warming room temperatures to a lineup of phobias. One of the live “actors” is said to be the world’s longest snake in captivity: a 350-pound, 25-foot-2-inch long reticulated python.
At Macabre Cinema, you walk through a haunted 1930’s cinema to discover at least 30 scenes from classic and contemporary horror movies. Among several real movie sets are “Killer Clowns from Outer Space,” “The Mummy” and “Hellraiser.” The Beast is a four-story labyrinth of terror, from bayou swamps and werewolf-filled forests to medieval castles. Visitors can exit the haunt via a dark slide.
“Our team blends theatrical craft with technology – everything from pyrotechnics, animatronics and advanced soundscapes to temperature shifts and sensory illusions,” Arnett Bequeaith said. “The effects are designed not just to scare but to disorient, making visitors question what’s real and what’s staged.”
America Haunts calls it scare-cation travel. Travelers build entire trips around visiting these haunts, staying overnight so they can add on nearby escape rooms and enjoy a festival-like atmosphere that surrounds the attractions.
America Haunts’ 2025 top 5 haunts worthy of a scare-cation
If you’re looking for inspiration on where to go for a scare-cation, start with this list. Generally, mega haunts open in early September and run through early November.
The Dent Schoolhouse in Cincinnati, Ohio
Set in an actual school built in 1894, Dent’s lore of a murderous janitor weaves into meticulously detailed sets and Hollywood-caliber effects. Guests encounter aerial stunts, a reimagined cafeteria, a lab and a haunted basement where the janitor lurks. Dent pushes boundaries with diverse tours – ghost tours, lights-on, lights-out and full-throttle scares that rocket fear from zero to 100. With its atmosphere and immersive storytelling, Dent is a must-see destination. dentschoolhouse.com
Erebus Haunted Attraction near Detroit, Michigan
Erebus is an iconic four-story labyrinth of terror in Pontiac, just outside Detroit. Once holding the Guinness World Record as the longest walk-through haunted attraction, it has become a pilgrimage site for haunt fans. Guests descend through towering sets, cutting-edge effects and a relentless barrage of scares that challenge even the bravest thrill-seekers. Its sheer size and intensity create an unforgettable experience, cementing Erebus as one of the country’s most legendary haunted destinations. hauntedpontiac.com
Kersey Valley Spookywoods near Greensboro, North Carolina
Set on a 92-acre farm in North Carolina, Kersey Valley Spookywoods has grown into a full-scale Halloween destination. They offer days and nights of options with haunted trails, wagon rides and sprawling mazes, each designed with massive set pieces and intricate detail. This haunt leverages nature without the nurture in 22 immersive sets as guests traverse the woods. Add in midway shopping, dining and unique haunt couture merchandise, and Spookywoods offers a thrilling weekend getaway. spookywoods.com
The Haunted Trail of Balboa Park in San Diego, California
Few haunts can match the atmosphere of The Haunted Trail, staged beneath towering, twisted trees in San Diego’s historic Balboa Park. For more than 25 years, this outdoor fright walk has combined the city’s scenic setting with unforgettable scares, creating a Halloween tradition for locals and visitors. With the park’s cultural attractions, San Diego’s nightlife and beaches just minutes away, the Haunted Trail anchors a complete scare-cation experience. Named among the top haunts in the nation, it continues to lure travelers seeking one-of-a-kind thrills under Southern California’s autumn skies. hauntedtrail.net
Nightmare on 13th in Salt Lake City, Utah
Now in its 36th season, Nightmare on 13th continues to raise the bar as one of the nation’s most celebrated haunted houses. This year introduces a new Horror Cinema finale, plunging guests into a double feature of terror with the Mothman and a relentless slasher. Known for jaw-dropping sets, massive animatronics and two working Tesla Coils, this haunt near downtown Salt Lake City blends movie-quality production with interactive scares. nightmareon13th.com